Dear Cruise Ship Crew,
You are the hardest-working people I know. Whether it’s ensuring cabins are clean or drinks are always topped off, your diligence and dedication to what you do every day is inspiring. The long hours you work, often with very little personal time to rest, boggles my mind.
You work the long shifts of a doctor or nurse, without the days off in between shifts, and often for less pay than we guests would expect. You deserve to be appreciated, through tips and through good pay.
I often return from a cruise vacation more inspired to work hard, and not just because of the rest I’ve had. It’s also because you’ve motivated me to give it my all.
Those crew who are front-facing: I salute you. As anyone who’s worked in a customer service position would know, there is no other job that comes with more strange interactions, potential hostilities and unique challenges than working with people every day.
Those of you who welcome every guest with a smile and an infectiously happy attitude brighten every room you walk into. You make each guest’s experience memorable and better, just by existing.
Whether we’re sailing the sunny Caribbean or visiting the Arctic, you are a ray of sunshine that cloudy days cannot shadow. You remind me of the power of a smile, and how starting the day with positivity can really turn an average, tiring day into something awesome.
I want to commend you crew on doing the hard, behind the scenes work: cleaning, fixing the ship, making sure it’s running well and prepping the constant stream of food to keep all of us fed.
All the workers in their crew jumpsuits and chef jackets who work just as tirelessly to keep the place running beneath the waves and beyond the eyes of the guests deserve just as much praise as the others.
Cruise ships are floating cities. You keep us afloat, safe and fed.
Lastly, for the work you do every day that goes unseen: I can’t imagine how hard and isolating it must be to leave your world behind to work on a ship for months on end, capturing a few moments here and there to talk to your families—your dads and your moms, your significant others and your children and your siblings.
While working on a cruise ship is a unique, formative experience that offers opportunities for meeting new people and learning new skills, it comes with a quiet yet significant cost: time with your loved ones.
For those of you who can’t wait to see your families in person once more, know that you are braver than you think and stronger than you know, even on days when it’s hard to think of them. Don’t be afraid to cry because you miss them.
In short, it doesn’t matter what job you do on a cruise ship, seen or unseen. You are important, you are appreciated, and we see you.
Thank you for your service.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
